The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-20
THE LABOR WAR.
STRONG PLEDGE FOR WORKMEN.
Chicago Building Bosses Unite
to Kill Trade UniOnism.
The Lockout to End June strikers to Prosecute
the EMPLOYERS Under the Conspiracy
Laws for Preventing Cooperation

morning, that the lockout of the bosses
has assumed new phase which may
end in very interesting legal contro-
versy. The leaders of the workmen di-
rectly or indirectly affected by the pend
ing difficulties, have made up their
minds to test the legality of the combi-
nation of bosses to prevent the
sale of the material. The plan
mapped out is to lay the matter before
States Attorney Grinnell. The suppo-
sition is that the States Attorney cannot.
even if they have done anything Illegal,
obtain an Indictment against the bosses,
there being no grand jury in session now,
and then the labor people intend to pro-
cure warrants from police justices and
bosses. They promise some sensational
developments soon. The fight will be
unparelled in the history of labor or
organizations.
AN IRON CLAD AGREEMENT.
a bold plan of campaign to settle
the great building trades lockout by
June / and to strike a MEM
Orable blow at trade unionism
was set on foot, this evening at
a conference of delegates from every
building intereste in Chicago with rep
resentatives present from the Illinois
Architects, Association the Chicago Real
Estate Board and kindred bodies, the
members of which hire altogether prob
ably 80, 200 workmen. A resolution was
unanimously adopted that from this
time forth the signature of the following
card of principles by employee be made
the universal condition of employment
by all the building interests of Chicago:
/ recognize the right of every man to
decide for himself, without dictatiOn or
interference, when he shall work or cease
to work, where he shall work, for whom
he shall work, how many hours he shall
work, and for what wages he shall
work.
1 recognize the absolute right of the
employer to decide for himself. without
interference from any source, whom he
shall employ; to regulate and manage his
business with perfect Independence and
freedom, provided only that he shall
deal lawfully, justly and honorably with
all men.
/ recognize the right of every father
to have his son taught, and of every son
to learn, any lawful trade as on plane
with his right to the knowledge of read
ing. writing, or any other branch of
learning, and that it should be subject
to regulation only by the law of the
land.
hereby pledge myself, in all my re-
lations and intercourse with my EN-
ployers and fellow workmen, to main
tain and live up to there principles.
There was no debate ON the adoption
of this measure and the action was en-
Enthusiastically unanimous, but general
discussion sprang up when it was pro-
posed that the same card of principles be
presented for signature to every employ
er with the pledge thereto changed as
follows:
ANOTHER PLEDGE.
1 hereby pledge myself to maintain
and live up to these principles in the
prosecution of my business, and to lend
my aid to the full extent of my influence
and power for their maintenance and
protection amongst my fellow employ
ers. l further pledge myself not to EN-
ploy any workman except upon his sig
nature to this card of principles.
When it was stated that the pledge
meant the discharge of every workman
who did not sign the required card nu-
merOus objections We're raised, especially
by the contracting plasterers, carpen-
tiers, and stone cutters who are getting
along peaceably with their men and are
expecting no trouble. All the objections
were met with the reply that the card
contained nothing not guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States, and
that the country had got tired of being
shackled by labor unions. At length a
tacit understanding was reached that
the pledge should be voted upon by the
delegates individually, they then to go
to their associations and urge its ratifica-
ton. The pledge was thereupon adopted
unanimously.
The first day of June was fixed as the
date when the lockout would be declared
off and business resumed with the card
of principles as a basis.